Nov 6 (FT) Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal to utilise State funds to complete the remaining section of the Maharagama-Piliyandala road after the OPEC Fund for International Development loan was found insufficient to cover the full project cost. A loan agreement worth $ 50 million was signed with the OPEC Fund to upgrade 46 km of national roads in the Colombo District. Among these, the 6.7 km Maharagama-Piliyandala road was identified as the final project under the loan. more..

Nov 6 (FT) Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) recorded a 17.9% decline in net profit to Rs. 17 billion during the first six months of 2025, compared to Rs. 20.7 billion in the corresponding period of 2024, as falling global fuel prices and a stronger rupee reduced its turnover and cost base. CPC’s turnover fell by 19.3% to Rs. 439.5 billion from Rs. 544.3 billion a year earlier, in line with a reduction in the cost of sales to Rs. 377.9 bil, down 19.2% from Rs. 467.7 bil recorded in first half of 2024. more..

Nov 6 (DN) Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe said that Lanka Sathosa has purchased over 70,000 kilograms of big onions from farmers as of Tuesday (4), and the private sector has also purchased significant quantities. However,the Minister said that local big onion production this year has reportedly quadrupled compared to last year. “To provide relief to local big onion farmers, the import tax on big onions has been raised from more..

Nov 6 (FT) National Sales Average (NSA) of tea for October has declined Month-on-Month (MoM) though reflecting an increase Year-on-Year (YoY). NSA in Oct declined by Rs. 14.48 to Rs. 1,177.14 per kilo (by $ 0.07 to $ 3.87) as against September average of Rs. 1,191.62 ($ 3.94). In comparison to the October 2024 average of Rs. 1,172.15 ($ 3.99), was an increase of Rs. 4.99 and $ 0.12. Total NSA year to date was Rs. 1,161.99 ($ 3.87), a decline of Rs. 74.93 ($ 0.21) against more..

Nov 6 (FT) National Development Bank (NDB) said it has delivered impressive profitability growth backed by sound core banking operational growth in the first nine months of 2025. NDB’s operating income and pre-tax profit expanded by 32.3% and 62.1% to reach Rs. 28.4 billion and Rs. 11.0 billion, respectively. CEO Kelum Edirisinghe said: “Our performance over the nine months’ period ended provides ample testimony to the consistent positive progress made across almost all aspects of more..

Nov 6 (FT) Top legal expert and National Procurement Commission (NPC) Member Dr. Asanga Gunawansa on Tuesday cautioned that Sri Lanka risks creating a maze of overlapping regulatory authorities and legal inconsistencies in its approach to public-private partnerships (PPPs) and procurement, unless urgent steps are taken to align and streamline its institutional framework. Speaking at a high-level forum in Colombo titled PPP: Partnership and Prosperity for People more..

Nov 6 (DN) A brilliant all-round performance led by opener Vimoksha Balasuriya (62) and off-spinner Aseni Thalagune (5/10) powered Sri Lanka Under-19 Women’s team to a commanding 118-run victory over Malaysia in the third T20 match of the five-match series, played at the Colts Grounds yesterday. With this win, SL sealed the series 3–0, with two games still remaining, continuing their dominance throughout the tour. Batting first, SL U-19 Women posted a formidable 166 for 7 in 20 overs. more..

Nov 6 (TM) Ministry of Women and Child Affairs stated that it would launch a programme to educate the public — particularly teachers — on the importance of banning corporal punishment, in the wake of ongoing discussions surrounding the proposed Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to introduce legal provisions against the corporal punishment of children. Deputy Minister Dr. Namal Sudarshana said that teachers and more..

Nov 6 (FT) Top blue chip John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH) has reported a strong second quarter and signalled a far better second half, defying critics and pessimists. JKH has doubled Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortisation (EBITDA) to Rs. 18.3 billion, which includes interest income and the share of results of equity-accounted investees based on the share of Profit After Tax (PAT), but excludes all impacts from foreign currency exchange gains and losses more..

Nov 6 (ST) SL govt has specified a clear fiscal vision before the country’s 2026 Budget presentation on Nov 7 under the theme: A Productive Economy and Foster the Engagement of Everyone in Economic Development. It will not include new taxes. Instead, it will focus on boosting state revenue by strengthening tax administration, primarily through digitisation and widening the tax net. This marks a decisive axis from the work done to date and it will be reforming existing tax instruments, more..

Nov 6 (EN) Sri Lanka planning to 60,000 state workers in the future to fill vacancies after allocating tax money to to hire 30,000 workers in the current year, a media report said. Minister Chandana Abeyratne was quoted as saying by the online portal of Sri Lanka’s Newsfirst televison that the process to fill positions in the Sri Lanka Administrative Service, Sri Lanka Engineering Service, Planning Service, and Accountants’ Service has already started. more..

Nov 6 (FT) Markspen Group, the leading distributor of globally renowned modern agricultural machinery in SL, introduced to the local market the GRANIFRIGOR Grain Cooling Device, an advanced agritech innovation from Germany. This pioneering cooling device, manufactured by Germany’s FrigorTec GmbH, draws from a 60-year legacy backed by specialised knowledge, domain expertise and technology acumen in agricultural cooling systems. Today GRANIFRIGOR™ is used in more..

Nov 6 (ST) In a recent Appeal Court ruling, the govt of SL has been ordered to revoke the gazette notification issued on four local companies established in the Colombo Port City, which deemed the country’s Employment Act will not be applicable to employees working within the port city borders. Four companies operating in the Port City were exempted from certain taxes and the termination of employment laws through new gazettes issued on July 14 this year, more..

Nov 6 (FT) A delegation of SL businesses, is in Canada from 3 to 8 November, exploring opportunities in investment and partnerships in education, agriculture, information technology and tourism. Organised by the SL–Canada Business Council of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Canada–SL Business Convention, with the support of the High Commission of SL in Canada, the group includes representatives from several key industries more..

Nov 6 (FT) Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC), has secured another repeat vessels contract to build two Cable Laying and Repair Vessels to one the prestigious cable ship operators, Orange Marine. Incidentally this is the largest shipbuilding contract CDPLC has ever signed in the history of the Company. Orange Marine is a French company specialising in the field of submarine telecommunications, from the initial design, engineering, to installation of intercontinental more..

Nov 6 (ST) Civil Aviation Authority of SL (CAASL) has advertised 15 critical vacancies, including air safety and oversight personnel, ahead of a crucial audit by the Int'l Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) scheduled to take place in the next 24 months. Among the posts that the CAASL expects to fill are senior civil aviation inspector (aircraft flight operations); senior civil aviation inspector (air traffic management-technical); more..

Nov 6 (Island) In a developing country like Sri Lanka, one of the main challenges, is developing attitudes and social values of its citizens. Attitudes are the behaviours and beliefs that shape an individual’s or society’s actions. These attitudes have a significant impact on personal and societal development. Therefore, developing the right attitudes is crucial for the progress of a nation. Attitude development has a profound impact on various aspects of society. For instance, promoting more..

Nov 6 (Island) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake is scheduled to perform an unenviable task tomorrow—presenting Budget 2026. The JVP-led NPP raised people’s expectations beyond measure to win elections, and it is now under tremendous pressure to honour its pledges. State sector trade unions are demanding pay hikes and tax relief, as usual. Govt Medical Officers’ Association is prominent among them. It has called for a salary increase and a PAYE tax reduction for its members. more..

Nov 6 (CT) The Cabinet’s decision to open operational roles in the SL Railways to women marks a historic stride towards gender equality in one of the nation’s oldest State institutions. For the first time in over 165 years, women will be eligible to serve as Railway Engine Drivers, Station Masters, Superintendents, and Supervisory Managers — positions that have for too long remained the preserve of men. It is, by any measure, a progressive and commendable move. more..

Nov 6 (TM) The Chinese authorities have introduced a new set of regulatory rules for social media-based content creators, commonly known as influencers, requiring those who wish to discuss certain serious topics to first provide proof of the relevant professional credentials or expertise. This means possessing a valid university degree, recognised training, a license or certification before publishing or broadcasting content on regulated areas such as finance, health, medicine, law or education. more..

Nov 6 (SO) The country’s education system is on the brink of a transformation unlike any in recent memory. Beginning next year, sweeping reforms promise to move classrooms beyond the rigid, exam-driven traditions that have long shaped the nation’s schools – towards a model that celebrates every child’s individual strengths and talents. Framed under the metaphor of Wings (Aththatu), the reforms aim to replace more..

Nov 6 (GV) Mannar stands at the frontline of a new conflict: the cumulative impact of large scale development projects, in particular the proposed wind farms. While renewable energy is crucial for SL’s future, the approach and location of these projects should be carefully considered. Environmental concerns raise urgent questions about transparency, governance and survival for local communities. For over 70 continuous days, people of Mannar have maintained more..

Nov 6 (DM) The incident I am going to relate now may seem unrelated to what follows. But it is related to the theme of this week’s column – the chronic lack of accountability that SL society suffers from. Its moral compass is spinning wildly out of control. I went to the post office to post a registered letter. There was a young man ahead of me. I stood behind him, forming a queue. A young woman came rushing with a big bundle of letters. Not even noticing the queue, she gave the bundle to postal clerk, more..

Nov 6 (TM) SL’s Constitution clearly states that every person charged with an offence is presumed innocent until proven guilty, as enshrined in Article 13(3). Further, torture, cruel treatment, or humiliation, including the public shaming of suspects is strictly forbidden under Article 11. Yet, in today’s social media-driven society, these protections are often tested, and sometimes, tragically, undermined by the actions of law enforcement officers more..

Nov 6 (DM) How far can a country go in accommodating its multicultural, multi-faith, and multi-racial character without amplifying the fault lines and developing parallel societies? This is not a question unique to SL, but a global one. That, however, is the question one should ask about the recent govt proposal, now seems to have been aborted, to accommodate long dresses and head coverings for Muslim health care workers. The govt proposal stemmed from a discussion more..

Nov 6 (DM) After several months of protests, the people of Mannar won their battle to save their soil from unplanned development projects. According to the cabinet decision on Tuesday, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake had instructed Power and Energy Ministry officials to refrain from continuing any major projects in Mannar without obtaining the consent from people. This is a positive development in terms of sustainable development, particularly because people’s consent is paramount more..

Nov 5 (TM) Teachers’ and Principals’ Trade Union Alliance has announced that it will give the Government time until 7 Nov to reverse the decision to extend the duration of each school day. The Union further warned that if the decision (to extend school hours by 30 minutes till 2 pm) is not changed, it will launch island-wide trade union action during the second week of next month. General Secretary of Ceylon Teachers’ Union more..

Nov 5 (AD) A tsunami mock drill covering the entire island is scheduled to be held today in conjunction with World Tsunami Awareness Day. The exercise is organized by a regional body comprising 28 member countries of the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC). The drill will be conducted in five Grama Niladhari Divisions across the coastal districts of Batticaloa, Kalutara, Galle & Jaffna. The main national-level exercise will be held in the Kalutara District and is scheduled more..

Nov 5 (DM) The local tourism industry, once hailed as the country’s third-largest foreign exchange earner, is under scrutiny for the reliability of its earnings data, with experts warning that flawed accounting methods are distorting the true picture of the sector’s performance. According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance, current tourism earnings remain clouded by flawed calculations, with official estimates still based on a 2018 survey by SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA). more..

Nov 5 (TM) The CIABOC has launched an investigation into allegations that former Minister Basil Rajapaksa misused over Rs. 1.03 billion in public funds during the period from 2010 to 2015. In a complaint lodged with the CIABOC, the Citizens Power Against Bribery, Corruption & Waste organisation President Kamantha Thushara said that the alleged misuse of State resources is detailed in the final report of Prez Commission of Inquiry more..

Nov 5 (Island) TN Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday urged External Affairs Minister of India S. Jaishankar to initiate immediate diplomatic efforts with the SL govt to secure the release of all the arrested fishermen along with their boats, Indian media reported. The SL Navy detained 31 fishermen from Nagapattinam along with their three fishing boats on Nov 3, Chief Minister said, adding that in a separate incident, four fishermen from Ramanathapuram were also apprehended, more..

Nov 5 (Island) Retired High Court judge Manikavasagar Illancheliyan recently said that he had been deprived of an opportunity to serve for four more years for no fault of his. Illancheliyan presided over many high profile criminal cases including the rape and murder of Sivaloganathan Vithya. He was the target of a failed assassination attempt in July 2017 near the Nallur Kovil in Jaffna where the police officer escorting him was killed. Addressing a gathering in London, more..